Most of the massive workforce needed to secure the Olympics will be in place by the end of January.
But Vancouver residents won’t see out-of-town cops keeping order on the streets, a Games security spokesperson said Tuesday.
“That’s a question we get asked locally a lot,” RCMP Staff Sergeant Mike Cote told reporters. “’What does a Winnipeg city police officer know about patrolling the streets of Vancouver?’ Well, they won’t be.”
Securing the 2010 Winter Games is a colossal $900 million operation. The Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit will be comprised of 4,500 military personnel, 5,000 private security officers, and 6,000 police from across the country.
Several observers have worried that out-of-towners might not have the experience to interact properly with local protesters or the Downtown Eastside. They’ve fretted that misunderstandings could lead to clashes.
Cote was clear that only local officers will police local streets. Most ISU forces will be deployed within the security zones of 30 Olympic venues such as the Richmond Oval and International Media Centre.
“Those officers coming from across Canada will be wearing their own uniforms,” Cote said. “But they’ll be working within the perimeters of the venues.”
Games spectators can expect screening procedures similar to an airport, Cote added.
He was unapologetic about what will likely be a very visible security force.
“It’s certainly an area where we can’t cut corners. We all know the times we live in. It’s a necessity,” he said.
Geoff Dembicki reports for the Tyee.
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Ramona777
2 years ago
Will Crime Rise Beyond the Olympian Police Patrol?
Criminals everywhere but Vancouver/Whistler probably can't wait .... with fewer cops in their communities it'll be open season.
Which researcher will do the study to see how much crime rates increased during the 2010 free-for-all?
I'd also like to know what those 6,000 police officers will be carrying - Tasers? pepper spray? batons? guns?
freebear
2 years ago
What the F..k!
"“It’s certainly an area where we can’t cut corners. We all know the times we live in. It’s a necessity,” he said.
You'd think he was talking about healthcare; swine flu vaccine; education; or the Haita relief effort!
This level of security is not a neccessity because the owelimpics is not a neccessity!
No, we cut corners in education, health, environment, transportation ........
circle A
2 years ago
Wouldn`t it be great
if maybe they could send some commercial crime investigators to have a look at campbell and co.`s business dealings, to say nothing of vanoc.
North of Hope
2 years ago
The article states,
"Several observers have worried that out-of-towners might not have the experience to interact properly with local protesters or the Downtown Eastside. They’ve fretted that misunderstandings could lead to clashes."
Perhaps they will be trained by the crew from YVR to show them how to handle people.
And to Ramona777, they will have all of those weapons.
G West
2 years ago
Cops from out of town...now there's a pretty picture
Might be a big improvement over the local ones who, after arriving at the wrong East Vancouver address on a domestic call, tuned up an innocent man (unable to speak English) and later apologized.
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Vancouver+cops+apologise+bashing+innocent/2470061/story.html